Landing gear



Nov; 11, 1952 F, R, HARR|$ 2,617,131

- LANDING GEAR Fi led Aug. 26, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. FrcderuRik 7W6 9/0822 iii/4M F. R. HARRIS Nov. 11, 1952 LANDING GEAR 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1948 ,J k A INVENTOfQ.

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Patented Nov. 11, 1952 LANDING GEAR Frederic R. Harris, New York, N. Y.,assignor to Stanolind Oil and Gas 00., Tulsa, Okla., a corporation ofDelaware Application August 26, 1948, Serial No. 46,309

9 Claims. 1

This invention is an improved landing gear comprising members adapted toset up a passageway between a fixed pier and a floating ship or vesselmoored thereto.

An important object is to provide landing gear supported so that it canswing through an arc of substantially 180 degrees; and comprising astairway member adjustably connected at one end to the outer end of agangway member, and at its opposite end kept within stepping distance ofthe deck of the vessel that is held in position by its own power and amooring line made fast to the pier; combined with a counterweight whichat all times acts to brace and steady the passageway that links thevessel and the pier together.

My main purpose is to provide landing gear which can always be operatedto swing out within reach of the vessel and secured to its deck;although the vessel approaches from different directions; and which willalways efficiently serve its purpose, even in rough weather.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings which present one form onlyof the improvement; and I reserve the right to make changes in detailswithout deviating from the general plan or underlying principle thereof.

Figure l is a plan view showing the general arrangement of an embodimentof my improved landing gear and indicating the mode of adjustment andoperation, the boom which is normally directly above and supporting thegangway member being shown in dotted outline at various positions in itsorbit.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure 3 shows the connection between the stair member and the gangwaymember of the landing gear; partly in cross section; and

Figure 4 is a front view of said connection.

The landing gear works to advantage by installing it on a pier, dock orwharf having a deck I and a flight of steps 2 leading down each face ofthe pier at a corner thereof to a curved platform 3 supported on thecorner of the pier at a suitable distance below the deck I. The landinggear, indicated at 4, is designed to connect the platform 3 to the deckof a ship 5; and comprises a stair member 6 joined to a gangway memberI, which in turn is pivotally united to and suspended from a fabricatedboom 8; extending outward from the corner of the deck I. The boom 8,which in operation is actually directly over the gangway member, is forclarity omitted and shown in dotted lines displaced from its normalposition and in duplicate to indicate its swinging range. This boom canbe swung about through an arc of degrees or more,as indicated inFigure 1. It carries the stair member 6 and gangway member with it as itmoves; and it can be turned and made to lower the landing gear upon thevessel 5, by hand or by any suitable arrangement of transmission devicesconnected to a source of mechanical power. The gangway member I issupported with its inner end approximately flush with the round platform3; and when it is in place with the stair member 6 on the deck of theship 5, the crew and others can easily leave the ship or return to it.

The boom 8 is composed of steel beams in open-work pattern, and the topand bottom plan thereof have substantially the outline of a shuttle,with straight converging sides at each end. The converging beams at thetwo extremities on the top are shown at 9, and they are connected byparallel side beams I0 at the middle of the boom. Alon the lower part ofthe boom the converging beams at the ends are in-- dicated at I9 (Figure2), these beams being joined at their inner ends to the beams 20 alongthe middle, the beams 20 at the two sides being parallel to each otherlike the beams II] above them. The upper and under faces of the boom canbe further strengthened by cross beams II and diagonal beams I2, madefast to each other at their adjacent ends and to the junctions of thebeams 9 and I9, with the beams I0 and 20. The various beams can bejoined by welding. The planes of both upper and under faces of the boomextend upward and outward from the dock or pier and converge; and theouter beams 9 and I9 meet in a point at the free extremity of the boomand are permanently secured there to one another by welding or othermeans.

At the opposite extremity of the boom, the beams 9 and I9 are spacedapart, and are rigidly united at separated points to a length ofvertical pipe I3, which extends below the boom and into a larger pipe I4afiixed in vertical position to the pier along the corner thereof. Atits upper end the pipe I3 is received in a bearing at the outer end of abracket I5, afiixed to the pier and projecting out from the corner ofthe deck I. The pipe I3 thus serves as a journal or swivel, so that theboom can turn in the bracket I5 and the tubular bearing I4. The pipe I4runs through the platform 3 and the bottom of the pipe I4 is fixed tothe pier by metal retainer I6, at its lower end. Within the pipe I4 iscounterweight I 8, which cooperates with the landing gear in a mannershortly to be explained.

Welded or otherwise attached to the junctions of the beams 20 and theouter beams IS on both sides of the boom 8, are beams or braces 2|extending downward and inclined towards the tubular bearing [4. They aremade fast at their lower ends to beams 22 at both sides of the boom; thebeams 22 being substantially vertical and secured to the junctions ofthe beams l and with the inner beams 9 and [9 respectively. The tops ofthe beams 2| and 22 at their junctions with the boom 8 are connected bybraces 23, and the ends of the braces 23 are joined at both sides of theboom to the junctions of the beams 20 and outer beams I9 and the beamsin and inner beams 8. A third brace 24 at each side of the boom is madefast to the middle of each beam 21, the junctions of the beams 20 andinner beams 49 and the inner beams 9 and journal l3. Each pair of beams2| and 22 meet at approximately the level of the platform 3, and theirunited ends are shaped to present bearings for a-shaft 25 extendingacross the adjacent end of the gangway member I. The ends of the shaft25 are engaged by said bearings, andeach pair of beams 25 and 22, withthe braces mentioned. thus constitutes a rigid depending framework ortruss supporting one end of the landing gear and pivotally connected tosame. The beams and the trusses are further strengthened by short bars25 uniting the junctions of the beams in and outer beams 3 to thejunctions of the beams '21, beams 29 and outer beams 19, at each side.

Thecounterweight I8 is affixed to one'end of a wire rope or chain 21which passes up out of the top of the pipe (3 and over pulleys 28 on theinner and outer ends of the boom 8. The lower end of the pipe is closedby a cover 28. Below the free extremity of the boom, the upper end ofthe rope is made fast to the middle of a cross bar or pipe yoke 39.Between the element 36 and the outer pulley 28 I may afiix an eyelet 31to the boom to prevent the displacement of the rope from the pulley.Both ends of the element are connected by thinner ropes or cables 32 tothe landing gear at the junction of the stair member 6 and the gangwaymember l.

These members are united at their adjacent ends by a universal jointillustrated in Figures 3 and a. This joint comprises a transverse shaft33, which extends through openings in the adjacent ends of the sidebeams 34 of the gangway member 1. Similar bearing openings are in thelongitudinal side beams 34 at the opposite ends for the shaft 25. At thecenter of the shaft 33 is a horizontal journal 35, projecting forwardand having at its rear end an extension 38 with a bearing openingthrough which the'shaft 33 passes. The journal has a projection on itsfront end with threads to receive a lock nut 3?. This nut retains thejournal, in a bearing 38, carried by a vertical web 39 that is part ofthe structure of the stair member 3. A washer to is interposed betweenthe nut 31 and the bearing 33 andoverlaps the adjacent end of thebearing 38. The web or plate 39 is strengthened and reinforced by anextension M united thereto at the rear of one of the steps at both sidesof the stair member; and

the shaft 33 also carries on each'end an antifriction roller 42 whichmakes contact with the web 39 and eliminates friction. The extension 36has .a screw 43 that enters agroove or keyway 44 in the shaft 33 andkeeps thejournal at the middle point thereof.

The side beams of the stair member are shown at 45, and the web 39extends across from one to the other. The steps between the side beamsare indicated at 46; and the upper step is extended back and is unitedalong its lower face to the transverse vertical web 39. It also carriesalong its rear edge a fixed depending metal plate 46' which screens theshaft 33, this shaft lying between the plates 39 and 46; and the sidebeams 34 of the gangway member project far enough out from the floor 48of the gangway member for this purpose. The floor 48 has transversecleats 49 'to prevent users from slipping. On the outer ends of theshaft 33, beyond the side beams 3 of the gangway member I are bearings50 for the shaft 33,-and'these bearings have perforated lugs 5! to whichare attached U-shaped links 52 which connect this shaft to the ropes 32.

Whenever a vessel arrives at the pier, the boom is swung to bring thelanding gear above its deck; the shaft or column 13 rotating in thebearing I4, and the gear being held raised by the weight it. The stairmember 5 can then be seized by a crewman and pulled down till the staimember rests on the deck 5 of the ship. The landing gear swings on theshaft 25, and the stair member 6 rises and falls as the boat is rockedby the waves; and the two members 6 and 7 swing sideways together if theboat swings.

The underside of the stairway member 8 has a frame abutment at each sidemade of braces '53 and i i joined at their outer ends and adapted toengage stops on the bottom of the gangway member I. The outer or lowerend of the stair member is chained to the deck of the vessel as shown at58. The rise and fall of the vessel thus merely bends the landinggear,which yields at the shaft 33; and if the vessel drops into a troughbetween waves, the gear is pulled down to the lower position indicatedin Figure 2.

The stops 5d and 55 may be cushioned. The whole landing gear is normallyheld up by the weight i8 and the stops 54 and 55 support the member 6 inan inclined position, so that it will not swing loosely when there is noboat unde it. Hence it can be more easily reached and pulled down to bemade fast by the chains 58. A lift of the vessel on the crest of a wavewill lift the landing gear and lower the weight I8. The landing gear isthus always operated as required and can be used whether the Water iscalm or rough.

The landing gear has hand rails 57, and the vessel is moored to the ringI! by the line 53. The rails 57 are on the gangw-ay member 6 and therails A! are on the stairway member 7.

The steps of the stairs are always virtually horizontal, while thevessel 5 moves up and down with the waves through a distance of severalfeet, and sideways asmuch as four feet. The landing gear enables aperson to wall: from the vessel up the stair member'fi and over thegangway 'l to the pier, even when high winds prevail. The wharf or piercarries suitable supports 59 to'bear the weight of the platform 3.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

l. Landing gear comprising a gangway memher, a stair member, a universaljoint connecting the stairway member to one end of the gangway member, aboom mounted to swing from side to side, frame means depending fromsaid'boom, the opposite end of the gangw-ay member being pivotallyattachedtosaid frame means, and means for yieldably connecting thejointed ends of said members to said boom.

.2. Landing gear comprising a gangway member, a stair member, auniversal joint connecting the stair member to one end of the gangwaymember, a boom mounted to swing from side to side, frame means dependingfrom said boom, the opposite end of said gangway member being pivotallyattached to said frame means to be movable about a horizontal pivot, andmeans for yieldably uniting the jointed ends of said members to saidboom.

3. Landing gear comprising a gangway member, a stair member, a flexibleconnection between said stair member to one end of the gangway member, aboom mounted to swing from side to side and bearing truss framesextending downward, a horizontal shaft carried by said frames, theopposite end of the gangway member pivotally engaging said shaft, andmeans for yieldably suspending said flexible connection from said boom,said means including a cable on said boom, united to said flexibleconnection, and a counterweight made fast to the opposite end of saidcable.

4. Landing gear comprising a boom having upper and lower beams, a columnaffixed to said boom at one end, said upper and lower beams convergingtowards the opposite end, truss frames extending downward carried bysaid boom, a transverse shaft carried by said frames, a gangway memberhaving one end pivotally engaging said shaft, a stair member, meansconnecting said stair member to the other end of the gangway member,means for yieldably attaching said first named means to said boom, andan upright tubular bearing in which said column is rotatably mounted,said means connecting said memhere including a universal joint betweensaid members.

5. Landing gear comprising a boom having up per and lower beams, acolumn afiixed to said boom at one end, said upper and lower beamsconverging towards the opposite end, truss frames extending downwardcarried by said boom, a transverse shaft carried by said frames, agangway member having one end pivotally engaging said shaft, a stairmember, means connecting said stair member to the other end of thegangway member, means for yieldably attaching said first named means tosaid boom, and an upright tubular bearing in which said column isrotatably mounted, said means connecting said members including a shaftat the other end of the gangway member, a journal rotatably mounted onthe last-named shaft, and a bearing on the stair member engaging saidjournal.

6. Landing gear comprising a boom mounted to swing from side to side,struts depending from said boom, a gangway member having one endpivotally supported by said struts, a stair member, means for connectingthe opposite end of the gangway member to the stair member and means foryieldably suspending said members at their connected ends from saidboom, said connecting means including a universal joint between saidmembers.

7. Landing gear comprising a boom mounted on a dock to swing from sideto side, struts depending from said boom, a gangway member having oneend pivotally supported by said struts, a stair member, flexible meansfor connecting the opposite end of the gangway member to the stairmember and means for yieldably suspending said members at theirconnected ends from said boom, said suspending means including a cableunited at one end to said members, guide wheels on the boom for thecable, and a counter-weight to which the cable is fastened at theopposite end.

to swing from side to side, struts depending from said boom, a gangwaymember having one end pivotally supported by said struts, a stairmember, means for connecting the opposite end of the gangway member tothe stair member and means for yieldably suspending said members attheir connected ends from said boom, said connecting means including auniversal joint between said members, said suspending means including acable united to said members, guide wheels on the boom for the cable,and a counter-weight to which the cable is fastened.

9. Landing gear comprising a boom having upper and lower side beams, ashaft to which said boom is aflixed at one end, said beams convergingtowards the opposite end, truss frames carried by the boom at the sidesand extending downward, bearings for holding said shaft upright, asupporting structure for said bearings, a gangway member pivotallyconnected at one end to said frames, a stair member, means forconnecting the stair member to the opposite end of the gangway member,means for yieldably uniting the connected ends of said members to saidboom, and a platform adjacent the lower ends of said frames; saidconnecting means for said members including a universal joint; saidyieldable means comprising a cable attached to said members, guidewheels on the boom for the cable and a counter-weight secured to thecable.

FREDERIC R. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 290,342 Mooney Dec. 18, 1883290,348 Olsen Dec. 18, 1883 555,542 Throop Mar. 3, 1896 785,400 BuchananMar. 21, 1905 1,329,924 Paul Feb. 3, 1920 1,836,453 De Veau et a1, Dec.15, 1931 8. Landing gear comprising a boom mounted

